The magnitude of his ability was both thrilling and terrifying. He'd lifted a hand, meaning a small, carefully constructed jet of energy – a spark, perhaps enough to ignite a flame – but all that was released was a vast tsunami of power that cleaved the forest earth, the ground shuddering under the sheer force. Ancient, towering trees were torn up and sent flying like branches, their leaves blowing away like a green blizzard. The land hummed with a silent tremor, the very atmosphere shaking from the lingering power. He gazed at the destruction, his jaw gaping. "Oops," he muttered, again, the word painfully inadequate considering the extent of his unintended devastation.
He experimented the next few hours cautiously, the fear giving way shortly to a growing sense of wonder, and a big injection of caution. He figured out how to wield his power, how to tap the staggering amount of energy at his command with ease, though even the smallest applications felt world-shattering. He could command the elements effortlessly, calling on blizzards of ice or waves of blazing fire or fortresses of unbreakable earth. He could heal injuries instantly, repair broken limbs, and even bring back small creatures he'd inadvertently killed while experimenting (the rabbits inexplicably being less than grateful for the second bite of the apple).
He could teleport short distances, leaving trails of shining light behind. He could even affect the mind somewhat, although this ability disturbed him somewhat, and he determined not to use it if at all possible. The potential for abuse was. daunting.
He knew, his heart sinking, that his "god-like" abilities were a good, good deal more powerful than anything he'd ever dreamed. He wasn't merely a great mage; he was a force of nature, a walking and talking cataclysm clad within the very unassuming body of a teenager. It was overpowered; this was preposterously, laughably overpowered. He was on a level of difficulty that did not exist.
The possibility of encountering other formidable beings in Aerthos filled him equally with dread and morbid curiosity. He'd battled virtual dragons and demon lords within "Aethelgard," but those were just pixels. This was.real. And the stakes were infinitely higher. He could destroy armies of soldiers by merely thinking about it, but what if he was up against someone as powerful as - or even more powerful than - himself? The thought of a battle of titans, a conflict that could rewrite the very world of Aerthos, filled him with a nervous thrill. He wondered if there was a 'save' option here.
The Genesis Veil expanded on its own terms, seemingly organically. News of his mysterious ability spread like a firestorm on dry grass, fueled by fanciful accounts of his miraculous deeds and mysterious declarations. His followers, a small group of hardcore believers at first, were now a significant and deeply structured group, loyal as the day was long, faith unwavering. They were a formidable army, and unknown to themselves, they were led by a teenager who was still forgetting to do his laundry.
He discovered a curious comfort in their adulation. Their blind faith was flattering and somewhat unsettling, yet offered a vital buffer, a shell of protection against unwanted attention. The rumors of his potency spread far and wide, attracting the gaze of individuals and factions far more powerful than any that he'd met up until this time. He knew that Aerthos was filled with ancient enigmas, dark conspiracies, and covert wars. Rogue gods, banished demons, and corrupt empires all took a role in a shadowy game of power that had existed for hundreds of years. And through mere circumstance, he was a key player.
A messenger eventually turned up at the remote isolation of the Genesis Veil. He was a gaunt and tired-looking individual, his robes torn and stained, his eyes burning with a desperate hope. He carried a message from the Crimson Order, a brutal empire that had a reputation for ruthlessness and a bottomless appetite for power. They required a meeting with Ravi, the tone of the request leaving no room for misunderstanding. They wished to. tap his power.
Ravi watched the messenger from his covert location and felt a shiver of apprehension. The Crimson Order was not a foe to be taken lightly. Their reputations for ruthlessness and deception preceded them. He could destroy them at the snap of his fingers, but a full-blown battle would reveal his true identity. The illusion of the secret Creator, the deliberately constructed mythos of the Genesis Veil, would be lost. The plan he'd carefully laid would disintegrate. It was not a simple win of battle; it was about keeping hold of control, of keeping hold of his carefully constructed anonymity.
He called upon his followers, the central members of the Genesis Veil. He revealed the message of the Crimson Order through his own calm and measured voice amidst the chaos within. He laid before them multiple courses of action each filled with its own individual hazards. The warrior woman suggested a raw, blunt attack of equals, a preemptive assault, rolling over the Crimson Order before they could take any action. The rogue spoke of infiltration and sabotage as a plan marshalled on the basis of subtlety and deception. The scholar spoke of a historical examination of the Crimson Order and the weaknesses and frailties they shared. The healer spoke of a multifaceted scheme involving powerful poisons and incapacitating venoms. Even the reserved mage spoke up, proposing the manipulation of the Crimson Order's own magical underpinnings.
Ravi listened intently, weighing the advice of the citizens of Aerthos. He had a tremendous amount of decisions to make, and a choice that might decide not just his own destiny, but the destiny of Aerthos as a whole. No longer was this a game; this was reality, and the implications of his actions ran far deeper than anything he'd faced while playing "Aethelgard." The game was much deeper than he had ever hoped. His very life, what was left of it, was riding on the next move. And deep inside, a piece of him - the piece that enjoyed a good challenge - smiled. This was going to be interesting.